Weekend Sportshorts

Sauk Valley C.C. freshman and Rock Falls native Aubree Johnson will run at the NJCAA national meet Saturday in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Johnson’s time of 22 minutes, 11 seconds at the regional meet last weekend in Joliet earned her a spot at nationals. She was the lone Skyhawk to advance; Sauk’s women and men both placed seventh at regionals.

TRACK & FIELD

Engle earns Hall of Fame nod

Longtime Oregon throws coach Doug Engle has been voted into the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and will be officially inducted on Jan. 11, 2014.

Engle, who coached 64 state qualifiers and 16 all-staters in more than 20 years as the Hawks’ throws coach, is one of seven coaches – out of 40 nominees – selected by the 18-member ITCCCA Hall of Fame committee at their annual meeting last month.

Engle was named the ITCCCA’s assistant coach of the year in 1999.

NBA

Carter suspended, Chalmers fined

The Mavericks’ Vince Carter was suspended one game without pay Friday, while the Heat’s Mario Chalmers was fined $15,000 by the NBA for separate incidents this week.

Carter made contact with his elbow to the head of the Thunder’s Steven Adams during Wednesday’s game in Oklahoma City.

Chalmers hit the Clippers’ Blake Griffin in the throat with his forearm during Thursday’s game in Miami.

Bobcats coach has heart surgery

Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford underwent successful surgery Friday to have two stents placed in his heart, and is resting comfortably at the hospital.

Clifford checked himself into the hospital Thursday after suffering chest pains.

Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, a Bobcats assistant, will serve as acting head coach until Clifford’s return.

The Panthers are 3-9-4, and have allowed an Eastern Conference-leading 57 goals. They are ranked 30th on the power play, 24th in faceoff percentage, and 22nd in penalty kill.

Dineen was 56-62-28 in parts of three seasons with the Panthers. He has been offered an opportunity to remain in the organization, though those details weren’t undisclosed.

NFL

Broncos coach out of hospital

John Fox is out of the hospital and resting at his offseason home in Charlotte, N.C., where he’ll continue his recovery from heart surgery and begin cardio rehab soon.

Fox had his aortic valve replaced Monday in a Charlotte hospital, 2 days after becoming dizzy while playing golf during the Broncos’ bye week. Fox had hopes to put off surgery until after the season, but his cardiologist and heart surgeon determined he could no longer push back the surgery.

The Broncos released a statement from Fox saying, “I’m feeling better and stronger each day,” and that his doctors “will clear me to return to Denver when the time is right.”

MRI reveals extent of Ponder’s injury

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Friday that an MRI confirmed that quarterback Christian Ponder’s non-throwing left shoulder is dislocated.

Ponder was injured during the third quarter of Thursday night’s 34-27 win over the Redskins. His return depends on how quickly the shoulder heals; the Vikings’ next game is Sunday, Nov. 17 at Seattle.

Frazier said the team will wait before deciding on a starter against the Seahawks, should Ponder be unable to practice next week.